Top snap and cylinder-catch for revolving firearms.



No. 735,490. PATENTE? Amqfms.

' A. PYRBERG.

TOP SNAP AND CYLINDER CATCH POR REVOLVING PIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

5, @fw f iilrtrirnn STaTns Patented August 4, 1903.

idnTnnT @Trios TOP SNA? AND CYLlNliRDCTCi-i FDR REVCLi/{NG Fil-'iEARh/IS. g

SPECIFIGATXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,490, dated August 4, 1908.

Application filed September 1l, 1902. Serial No. 122,967. .No niodclv To all when.y muy concern/.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW Frasnes, a citizen of the United States, residingat lvorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Top Snap and Cylinder-Catch for Revolving Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vthat class of revolvers or other firearms in which the barrel is hinged to the fore part of the frame, so as to be thrown down when the firearm is to be opened.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a strong, simple, and inexpensive form of top snap for holding the barrel in its normal position and to combine the top snap witha simple, eilicient, and inexpensive cylinder-catch for holding the cylinder in place, the tcp of the cylinder-catch being preferably located in position to form the tail sight, which is brought into line `with the forward sight when the firearm is to be discharged.

To these ends this invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described,and more particularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification. Y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a revolver with this invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View showing parts of the pistol detached. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View, partially in section; and Fig. i is a bottom view of the top snap, showing the T-shaped spring therefor.

Ina numbcrof breakdown firearms the top snap which has been employed forholding the barrel in its normal position has been substantially T-shaped, so as to be adaptodto engage the recess between posts which extend up from the frame. So long as the pivot of this form ol top snap romains tight it will forman eliicient construction; but when the pivot of the top snap is loosened it permits more or less side play to the ond of the barrel, tending to render the construction shackly. 1n a firearm constructed according tot-his invention this dilhculty is avoided 'ny providing the barrel with n rigid tongue which fits down between the posts extending up from the frame, while thc-top snap is made in the form of a U -shaped yoke, which straddles the posts or fits outside thereof, so that the tongue will keep the barrel in perfect alinemeut no matter howr much the top snap Wears or becomes loosened. The use of this form of top snap furthermore affords an opportunity to provide a cylinder-catch which is located in the tongue referred to and is so positioned that the head of the catch may serve as the ltail sight-of the firearm.

Referring to the drawings for a detail description of a firearm embodying this invention as shown in Fig. l, A designates the frame of the firearm, B the barrel, pivoted at ihe forward end of the frame, and C the cylinder, which is connected to the barrel. These parts may be of the ordinary or approved construction and need not be herein described at length. Extending back from the barrel, as most'clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2, is a rigid tongue or part that is adapted to fit down between the posts 15, extending up from the frame A when the pistol is closed.

. The topsnap, as herein illustrated, consists of a substantially U-shaped frame 10, having knurled finger-pieces at its end, the arms of the U-shaped top snap 10 being pivoted on a screw 11. The U-shaped top snap lO is adapted to straddle or extend outside of the posts 15 when the pistol is closed and serves to hold the parts in normal position in a simple and efficient manner. The spring which is used for ope ating the top snap is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. As shown in this figure, the arms of the U-shaped top snap l0 are notched, as at l2, to receive the ends of a T-shaped spring 13, the body portion of which is held in place by a screw 14.

The form of cylinder-catch preferably employed in connection with the U-shaped top snap consists, essentially, of a bell-crankshaped catch 17, which is pivotcd on a pin 1'.) in the tongue 1U and heldy in operativo position by a small spring 1S.

When it is desired to remove the cylinder for cleaning, reloading, or other purposes, the cylinder-catch 17 is moved back, so that the forward end thereof is lifted up ont of the way of the cylinder, while said catch permits the cylinder to be pushed back into position and then-snaps down behind the same to lock said cylinder in place. Ogle particu- 

